Did You Know That Vishwatma's Popular Song ‘Saat Samundar Paar’ Is Copied From A Popular English Song?

Twenty six years ago, this Hindi film song became such a hit that its popularity refuses to wane even today. At house parties, people might show off their knowledge of the latest EDM/House/VH1 playlists, but everyone is sure to join in a raucous chorus when Saat Samundar Paar comes on.

The song is from the film Vishwatma (1992), which was directed by Rajiv Rai. The film marked the debut of the late Divya Bharti (February 25, 1974 – April 5, 1993) on whom the song was picturised.

The song kicks off after Tapasvi Gunjal ( Gulshan Grover ) announces that “gaan and nritya” shall now take place in his Bubbles Discobar, which was actually a very famous nightclub in Nairobi those days.

“It is a song which is loved even by today’s generation and wherever I go, they play this song on the stage to welcome me. The song also comes later in the film when I am playing it on the flute to woo my fiancee and Chunky Pandey comes and messes things up for me. We were shooting that portion in a safari park when Chunky dislocated his shoulder and the shooting had to be stopped. We were all waiting for him to return from the doctor when suddenly the park rangers came and said that everyone should get inside the bus since four panthers were spotted nearby,” says Gulshan Grover.

Instead of sitting quietly in the bus, Grover and his colleagues decided to go look for the panthers. “Me, Jyotsna, Divya Bharti and a few others sat in the limousine that was part of the song shoot and decided to go looking for the panthers. We stopped next to a rangers jeep after a bit and asked them where could we find the panthers. What we didn’t know was that just three feet behind us. As we turned to see it, the lion strolled over to our car, yawned and walked away,” says Gulshan.

Grover, however, lets us in on some lesser known facts about the song and movie. “I was supposed to have more close ups during the song, but one of my shots ultimately went to the dancer with the afro hair and I was very upset because of that.”

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala bought the song rights of Saat Samundar and used it in Salman Khan -starrer Kick. The song plays in the background when Salman is dancing at a discothèque. Nadiadwala did this as a tribute to Divya Bharti, who was his first wife.

But did you know that it is actually inspired from an English song? Saat Samundar Paar’s main beat is from Heart by the English synthpop duo, Pet Shop Boys. The song, released in 1988, reached the no.1 position on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks that year.

Grover has heard the English song? “No, I haven’t. Send it to me!” he says.

So. Which one do you like better? The Pet Shop Boys or the Vishwatma version? And while you decide, check out this parody on Bad Man Gulshan Grover giving life advice disguised in 11 dialogues from his films.